, 1887-12-08
Blame Has His Saw.

New YORK. Dec. THE Tribu.
tomorrow will contain a long interview
with Hon. James G. Blame on President
Clevelands message. He says: Il have
been reading an abstract OF the presi
dent message, and have been especially
interested in the comments of tie LoudOn
papers. Those papers all seem to declare
that the message is a free trade mani
testo, and evidently they are anticipating
an enlarged market for English fabrics in
the United States as a consequence of the
presidents recommendations. Perhaps
that fact stamped the character of the
message more clearly han any other
words can"
You don't mean actual free trade
without duty?" queried the reporter.
No" replied Blaine, nor do the
London papers mean that. They simply
mean that the president has recommended
what in the United States is known as a
revenue tariff, rejecting the protective
feature as an object, and not even per-
uniting protection to result freely as an
incident to revenue duties"
II don't know that | quite compre-
bend that last point" said the reporter.
Il mean" said Mr.. Blaine, that for
the first time in the history of the United
States a president recommends retaining
the internal tax in order that tariff may
be forced down even below a fair revenue
standard. He recommends that the tax
on tobacco be retained. and thus that
many millions annually shall be levied on
domestic products, which would far better
come from tariff on foreign fabrics"
Then do you mean to imply that you
would favor the repeal of the tobacco
tax2"
Certainly. l mean Just that" said
Mr.. Blaine. "a should urge that it be do e
at once, even before the Christmas no =
days. 1t would in the first place bring
great relief to the growers of tobacco all
over the country, ard would moreover
materially lessen the prices of the article
to Tobacco to millions of
men is a necessity. The president calls
it a luxury. but it is a luxury in no other
sense that tea and coffee are luxuries.
1t is well to remember that the luxury OF
yesterday becomes a necessity of to-day.
Watch the number of men at work on the
farm, in the coal mine, along the rail
road, in the iron foundries or in any call
ing and you will find 95 to 100 Oh wing
while they work. After each meal the
same proportion seek the solace of a pipe
or cigar. These men pay millions of TO
bacco tax, but pay an enhanced price.
which tax enables the manufacturer and
retailers to impose.
well, then, Mr.. Blaine, would you
advise the repeal OF the whisky tax?"
No, | would not. Other considera-
tons than those OF financial administra-
t~ration are to be taken into account with
regard TO whisky. There is a moral side.
To cheaper the price of whisky is to in,
crease consumption enormously. There
would be no sense in urging the reform
wrought by high license in many states il
the national government neutralizes the
good effect by making whisky within the
reach of every one at 20 cents a gallon.
1t would destroy high license at once in
all states. Whisky has done a vast deal
Of harm in the United States. | would
try to make it do some good. | would
use the tax to fortify our cities on the sea.
board. In view of the powerful letter
addressed to the Democratic party on the
subject of Notifications, by the late
Samuel j. Tilden, in 1885, | am amazed
that no attention has been paid to the
subject by the Democratic administration.
Great bargains at l.. Ioeh'u